Letters to the editor

Figures on agricultural impact are alarming

In the second paragraph of Kevin Doyle's column, he writes that agriculture in Florida is a $100 billion industry. I'm not an economist, but I am a numbers' guy, so my gut and brain immediately said, "no way."

Some research told me that Mr. Doyle's number is a "value added" figure, including multiplier effects and data from mining, fisheries, forestry and food distribution. Using that number may not have been untruthful, but it was deceptive.

Agriculture's more direct contributions to our state's economy are about $6 billion a year, a big number to most of us, but less than 1 percent of Florida's total domestic product (about $700 billion).

Tourism, housing, health care, retail trade, and more all dwarf agriculture's contributions. I try to remember all this when I weigh agriculture's many benefits against its environmental impacts.

GENE WALTON

waltong@tcc.fl.edu

Give Scott credit for his change of heart

Congratulations to Gov. Scott for embracing what Pam Bondi called "Obamacare" in her piece in the Wall Street Journal.

The great state of Florida cannot turn its back on the poor and the disabled who find themselves in need of medical services.

One by one the various States of the Union will climb on board. Floridians cannot be left out in the cold.